Collective

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1:58

Collective

2020

1h 49m

Documentary

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Watchlist

Tomatometer

Popcornmeter

99%

Tomatometer

134 Reviews

89%

Popcornmeter

100+ Ratings

Directed by Alexander Nanau (TOTO AND HIS SISTERS), COLLECTIVE follows a heroic team of journalists as they uncover shocking, widespread corruption. After a deadly nightclub fire, the mysterious death of the owner of a powerful pharmaceutical firm, and the quiet resignation of a health minister—seemingly unrelated events, all within weeks of each other--the team of intrepid reporters exposes a much larger, much more explosive political scandal. COLLECTIVE is a fast-paced, real-time detective story about truth, accountability, and the value of an independent press in partisan times.

Critics Consensus

Collective presents a darkly effective overview of the cycle of political corruption and public cynicism that takes hold when government abrogates its responsibility to the people.

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Jake Wilson

The Age (Australia)

04/07/2021

3.5/5

If the film were merely a hymn to the everyday heroism of the press, it would risk becoming one-dimensional... So it's a good thing Nanau gives some space to a couple of memorable figures who represent different sides of the story.

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Max Weiss

Baltimore Magazine

04/02/2021

3.5/4

Collective is eye-opening, elegiac, and essential. It suggests, or at least hopes, that the only thing more powerful than political corruption is the collective voice of those trying to stop it.

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Anna Smith

Deadline Hollywood Daily

03/11/2021

This distressing documentary has relevance way beyond Romania, making it a must-watch for awards season and beyond.

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Paul Kanieski

KSQD Community Radio

07/26/2023

Watching Collective is not unlike reading a Michael Crichton page-turner.

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Alessandra Rangel

InSession Film

03/20/2023

A

Collective is a worthy addition to the genre of investigative journalism...

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Brian Susbielles

InSession Film

03/06/2023

It isn’t just a documentary. It is a crime investigated in real-time and the push for accountability and reform to prevent such a tragedy from happening again.

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Fong Kok Hoong F

@RT29722865 10/22/2024

Captured in real time, director Alexander Nanau follows sports journalist Cătălin Tolontan and a newly-minted Minister of Health Vlad Voiculescu down the rabbit hole into the heart of corruption at Romanian healthcare system in this disturbingly hard-hitting nominee for both Documentary Feature and International Feature at the 93rd Academy Awards.

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01/17/2022

Absolutely astonishing display of the importance of investigative journalism and the utter betrayal a government can commit on its citizens. With an attention to detail and a sense of pacing and narrative similar to the drama Spotlight, Collective is as thrilling as it is devastating. A must watch.

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Tony S

@RT94004908 09/10/2021

A relevant issue how system polices the system itself, prevailing mutually assured corruption. Displaying almost inhuman levels of faceless cynicism, with no actual political grandstanding or "experts" talking directly into camera. This of course, doesn't prevent a certain part of the world to immediately project, long hauled corruption in the Eastern Europe onto their own dissatisfaction with their government, pretending it's the same thing because "if it can't be about me, it might as well doesn't exist". Good job America. What should be immensely admired is director's transparent insight into both news room and ministry cabinet, especially, when you consider the clash of interest this would cause, since it all was happening simultaneously.

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david f

@dfulmer 08/26/2021

This documentary focuses mostly on a corruption scandal involving disinfectants sold to hospitals by a Romanian chemical company in the wake of a deadly club fire that led to protests and the fall of a government. It is very fly-on-the-wall without much background beyond the minimum but it is quite riveting and very interesting.

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07/19/2021

Heartbreaking and insightful

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tom e

@RT59872142 05/16/2021

Compelling investigation of corruption following a tragic fire in Romania but could easily have taken place in many countries including the Untied States. Remember that journalists have uncovered many governmental and corporate crimes against us, we the people. I have always enjoyed this theme from All the King's Men to Spotlight.

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Alexander Nanau

Director

Alexander Nanau

Writer

Antoaneta Opris

Writer

Hanka Kastelicová

Producer

Bernard Michaux

Producer

Alexander Nanau

Producer

Collective: Trailer 1

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Synopsis

Directed by Alexander Nanau (TOTO AND HIS SISTERS), COLLECTIVE follows a heroic team of journalists as they uncover shocking, widespread corruption. After a deadly nightclub fire, the mysterious death of the owner of a powerful pharmaceutical firm, and the quiet resignation of a health minister—seemingly unrelated events, all within weeks of each other--the team of intrepid reporters exposes a much larger, much more explosive political scandal. COLLECTIVE is a fast-paced, real-time detective story about truth, accountability, and the value of an independent press in partisan times.

Director: Alexander Nanau
Producer: Hanka Kastelicová, Bernard Michaux, Alexander Nanau, Bianca Oana
Screenwriter: Alexander Nanau, Antoaneta Opris
Distributor: Magnolia Pictures
Production Co: Samsa Film, Alexander Nanau Production, HBO Europe
Genre: Documentary
Original Language: Romanian
Release Date (Theaters): Nov 20, 2020, Limited
Release Date (Streaming): Nov 20, 2020
Runtime: 1h 49m
Aspect Ratio: Flat (1.85:1)